Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Casino Drive Wins In His Prep For The 2008 Breeders’ Cup
Posted on Sunday, October 12th, 2008
Unbeaten Casino Drive, prepped for the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 with a convincing victory in a $52,000 allowance race over Santa Anita Park’s Pro-Ride synthetic surface.
With jockey Victor Espinoza doing little more than sitting in the saddle, Casino Drive ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.14 to defeat runner-up Dakota Phone by 3/4 of a length after not having raced since a dazzling 5 3/4-length triumph in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 10.
The Peter Pan, following an 11 1/4-length maiden win in Japan, was supposed to set up a summit meeting with Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. A bruised foot, however, sent the 3-year-old Japanese colt Casino Drive to the sidelines.
Despite the considerable layoff, international travel and unfamiliarity with a synthetic surface, Casino Drive was bet down to 2-5 favoritism for his return. Jockey Victor Espinoza had him placed third among 7 runners going down the backside.
Traveling with little encouragement from jockey Victor Espinoza, Casino Drive took command on the far turn while racing on the far outside. The jockey, aboard for the first time, shook the reins and tapped Casino Drive nearing the wire. Dakota Drive, although closing resolutely, could not seriously menace.
“We had a slow pace early, and I kind of let him go at the three-eighths pole,” jockey Victor Espinoza said afterward while revealing that he has secured the mount for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. “At the eighth-pole, I wanted to see how much horse I had. I had plenty, believe me. I only tapped him once. It’s fun when you ride a horse like him, and I’m excited about riding him in the Classic.”
“Victor did a great job on him,” commented Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Casino Drive’s owner, Hidetoshi Yamamoto. “The horse saved plenty of energy for the Breeders’ Cup. It was really a perfect prep race. He was ready to run, we knew, but he’s not at the top of his form. So we hope that after this race, he’s going to improve.”
Oak Tree will present a Columbus Day card of holiday racing on Monday with 9 horse races headed by the $65,000 Kangaroo Court Stakes. Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, is scheduled to work between the fourth and fifth races in preparation for a possible start in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic. First post is 12:30 p.m.
Horse racing news edited from www.oaktreeracing.com.
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"Casino Drive Wins In His Prep For The 2008 Breeders’ Cup" was posted on Sunday, October 12th, 2008 at 10:04 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Santa Anita Track, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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